Molded pulp carton



Sept. 11, 1956 A. w. VAN DYKE 2,762,547

MOLDED PULP CARTON- Filed March 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Va'gJ.

@293. INVENTOR zv/bmw wmz BY K89 I Lou ATTORNEY ept- 11, 1956 A. w. VAN DYKE 2,762,547

MOLDED PULP CARTON Filed March 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 58 iii uw 44 ATTORNEY nited States Patent 2,762,547 MOLDED PULP CARTON Arthur W. Van Dyke, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a cor- I poration of Delaware Application March 12, 1954, Serial No..415,'7 65 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-25 The present invention relates to molded pulp cartons.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an open type molded pulp carton that is adapted to 'be .utilized for the packaging and display of food products or the like.

Prior to the instant invention, the open type molded pulp cartons that have been known heretofore havebeen It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a carton that is formed of a molded pulp material and is molded in one position for nesting or shipping and thereafter moved to a display position for receiving articles to be displayed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carton which, in the molded position thereof, is suitable for nesting with similar cartons for shipping purposes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton in which the walls of the carton are formed divergent to one another in the molded position, thereby providing for nesting of the carton for shipping purposes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton wherein the bottom wall of the carton is formed with a central portion and a plurality of segments, the segments being molded divergent to the central portion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton wherein the bottom wall is movable with respect to the side walls when the carton walls are moved from a molded position to a display position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton having a plurality of side walls,

the carton being formed on a single mold and stripped therefrom, the side walls being divergent to one another and to the carton bottom wall, thereby enabling the carton to be nested with other similar molded cartons for shipping.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan View of the carton embodied in the present invention illustrating the carton inthe position in which it is molded, the molded position defining the position in which the carton is nested with similar cartons for shipping purposes;

. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2. of Fig. 1;

2,752,547 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the carton after it has been moved to the open or display position from themolded position; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the carton shown iii Fig. 3 with portions broken away. v

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified carton illustrating the position in which it is molded;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

,Fig. 7 is an elevational View illustrating two of the modified cartons in the stacked position.

Generally, the present invention comprises a molded carton that is adapted to be formed in a moldedor nesting position and is directed toward the open type container. This type of container is distinguished from the cellular container which includes the heretofore known cellular egg carton. The carton described herein 'is formed of a molded pulp material and includes walls defining the sides of the carton'which are formed divergent to one another and to the vertical axis of the "carton. Formed integral with the side walls is a bottom wall which includes a plurality of segments, each ofthe'segments being joined to an adjacent side wall. "Positioned centrally of the segments is a central portion ofthe bottom wall which is formed divergent to the segments in the molded position of the carton. The bottom wall which includes the segments and thecentral'portion is adjustable for the purpose of causing the carton-to assume-the dis- .play position, and thus when the carton walls are moved to the display position, the central portion andsegments are adjusted until they are disposed in a common-plane and formthe bottom of the carton. When the carton'is disposed in the display position, the side walls are disposed .acarton having-any number of sides and beingformed in any shape or configuration may be constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the'present carton comprises a plurality ofside walls 10 which are formed in trapezoidal sections thereby defining a slit 12 therebetween. Each of the side walls 10 is formed divergent tothe other and to the vertical axis of the carton and is furthermore joined tothe .ad-

jacent side walls at the corners of the top edges thereof. Integrally joined to the top edges of the sidewalls 10, the

top edges being indicated at 14, is a-fiange 16 which extends around the periphery of the carton and,inefiect, forms a top extension for lifting the carton. The carton further includes a bottom wall which comprises a plurality of segments 18 and a central portionltl, each of the segments i8 being joined to a lower edge not a side wall 10, and the. central portion 20 beingformed centrally of. and joined to the segments 18 along the edges indicated at 24.

As illustratedmore particularly in Fig. 1, the segments 18 are formed in trapezoidal sections in a manner similar to the side walls 10, the segments 18 being joined to one another at the corners of the edges .24,thereby forming slits 26 at the sides of the segments, the slits .26

mold In the molded position shown in Fig. 2,-th e side being hinged to the central portion 20 along the edges 24. In this molded or nesting position, the carton is shipped and as seen in Fig. 2 is conveniently nested with similar cartons which are illustrated in dotted lines. Al-

though only three cartons are shown nested, it is apparent that as many cartons as practically possible may be conveniently nested together as a complete bundle when the cartons are packed for shipment.

The description of the carton described above has been directed to the manner in which the carton is actually a molded and to the configuration of the molded carton.

It is apparent that the carton in this position is not to be used for display purposes and, therefore, the walls thereof must be moved to the closed or display position. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the carton is shown in the display position, that is, the position of the carton after the walls thereof have been moved from the molded position shown and described in connection with Figs.

1 and 2. In moving the walls of the carton to the display position, the central portion is moved in a direction following the vertical axis of the carton or, as seen in Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows. It is apparent that as the central portion 20 of the bottom wall is moved upwardly or in the direction of the arrow, as seen in Fig. 2, the side walls 10 will be moved to a position in which they are perpendicular to the central portion 20 and perpendicular to the flange 16. Moreover, when the central portion 20 is moved to the display position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the segments 18 of the bottom wallwill then occupy a common plane with the central portion 20 and, in effect, form therewith the bottom wall of the carton. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the slits 26 are fully opened when the carton walls have been moved to the open or display position and the segments 18 and the central portion 20 of the bottom wall thereby define a forme cross. The slits 12 are also fully opened when the carton is in the display position and, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the side walls 10 are disposed such that e the trapezoidal configuration thereof and the slits 12 define a rectangularly shaped figure.

With the carton located in the position shown in Figs.

3 and 4, articles of food or the like may be inserted therein'for the purpose of display. If the carton complete with the article displayed is to be offered for sale, a convenient overwrap may be secured to the underside of the carton and wrapped around the top of the article disposed in the carton and then secured to the carton by some convenient means. The complete carton with the article disposed therein then forms an attractive display unit, providing a rigid structure and enabling the article to be displayed to its best advantage and without fear of abusive handling. The flange or top wall 16 of the carton provides a convenient lifting means when the carton is lifted for inspecting the article disposed therein and also provides a shelf whereby advertising matter may be inscribed thereon or fastened thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 57, a modified form of the present invention is illustrated and includes a molded carton formed of a pulp material in substantially the manner as described hereinabove. The modified carton "comprises side walls 30 formed in trapezoidal sections thereby defining slits 32 therebetween. The side walls are molded in divergent relation to each other and are joined together at the corners of top edges 34. A lifting 'flange or lip 35 is joined to the side walls along the top edges 34 and forms a top extension for the carton. A bottom wall forms the bottom of the carton and includes segments 36, each of which is joined to a side wall 30 along an edge 38 and to an adjacent segment at the intersection of lower edges 40, thereby defining slits 42.

Located centrally of the segments 36 and defined by the lower edges 40 is a central portion 44 which is adapted to be moved inwardly of the carton when the carton is moved from a molded or nesting position to the display position. As contrasted with the carton illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the central portion 44 and the segments 36 are somewhat larger in dimension than the segments 18 and central portion 20. By enlarging the segments 36 and central portion 44, the edges 38 joining the side walls 30 to the segments 36 will be forced outwardly with respect to the top edges 34 as seen in Fig. 7 when the carton is moved to the display position. The side walls 30 are thus disposed divergent to the segments 36 and flange 35 in the display position while the segments 36 and central portion 44 are located in a common plane, thereby forming the bottom wall of the carton. It is apparent that by extending the edges 38 outwardly of the top edges 34 the area defining the bottom of the carton is greater than the area defining the opening of the carton or between the top edges 34 and therefore the portion of the segments 36 joined to the edges 38 will seat on the flange 35 of a similarly formed carton when the cartons are stacked one upon the other.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, two of the modified cartons are illustrated in the stacked position and show more clearly the location of the outwardly extending edges 38 which join the side walls 30 to the segments 36 when placed on the flange 35 of a similarly formed carton. In the position shown in Fig. 7, the bottom edges 38 of the walls 30 rest on the flange 35 of the lower carton and in so doing the flange of the lower carton supports the entire upper carton and thereby protects the contents of the underlying carton.

Since the modified carton is molded in the same manner as the carton illustrated in Figs. l-4, it will be initially formed in an open position, which position provides for nesting of the carton with similarly formed cartons for the purpose of shipping or storing. When the carton is to receive an article for display therein, the central portion 44 is moved toward the bottom end of the carton, thereby forcing the segments 36 and side walls 30 into the display position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A molded pulp carton comprising a plurality of inwardly sloping independent side walls, a flange hingedly joined to the upper edges of said side walls, and extending around the perimeter of said carton, a bottom wall comprising a polygonal central portion positioned within said side walls and segments hinged to the bottom edge of said side walls, said segments extending upwardly and hingedly joined to said central portion being located in different planes with respect to said central portion, said central portion and segments being hingedly movable downwardly into a common plane with each other.

2. A molded pulp carton as set forth in claim I, wherein the lower edges of said side walls extend outwardly beyond the upper edges thereof, thereby enabling said carton to rest on the flanges of a similarly formed carton.

3. A molded pulp carton comprising a plurality of inwardly sloping independent side walls, a bottom wall comprising a central portion positioned within said side walls and segments hinged to the bottom edge of said side walls and extending upwardly and hingedly joined to said central portion, said central portion and segments being hingedly movable downwardly into a common plane with each other.

4. In a carton, a plurality of independent side walls, a bottom wall defined by a central portion positioned within said side walls and segments hinged to said side Walls and said central portion, said segments and central 5 portion being located in djfierent planes and hingedly movable downwardly into a common plane with each other.

5. In a carton, a plurality of inwardly sloping side walls, a bottom wall comprising a polygonal central portion positioned within said side walls and segments hinged to the bottom edges of said side walls, said segments being hingedly joined to said central portion and being located in different planes with respect thereto, said central portion and segments being hingedly movable downwardly into a common plane with each other.

6. In a carton, a plurality of inwardly sloping side walls, a bottom wall comprising a polygonal central portion positioned within said side walls and segments hingedly joined to the bottom edge of said side walls, said segments being hingedly joined to said central portion and located in difierent planes with respect thereto, said central portion and segments hingedly movable downwardly into a common plane with each other, the side walls and bottom wall thereby being located in perpendicular relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,247 Harlow Jan. 16, 1877 378,610 Murphy Feb. 28, 1888 978,569 Elkin Dec. 13, 1910 2,023,470 Hart Dec. 10, 1935 2,053,949 Emery Sept. 8, 1936 2,089,728 Brogden Aug. 10, 1937 2,133,930 Wagner Oct. 18, 1938 2,328,563 Lichter Sept. 7, 1943 2,476,948 Sanford July 19, 1949 

